Rate My Professor Bronwen Stephens

Bronwen Stephens is the Manager of the Graduate Research School at the University of Otago, having assumed the position in February 2023. A dedicated staff member with approximately 27 years of service to the university as of that time, she began her career in the Fees Office. After undertaking an overseas experience and holding several short-term university roles, Stephens transitioned to the Business School. She advanced through a variety of administrative positions, most recently as lead administrator in Student Administration, where she oversaw the research, scholarships, and graduation portfolios. This role reignited her interest in research, reminiscent of the work she did with postgraduate students in the Business School 10 to 15 years previously, despite her primary dealings being with undergraduate students. She sought the GRS manager position to broaden her responsibilities and acquire deeper knowledge, describing it as something substantial to engage with fully.

Currently serving as Specialist, Systems and Processes in the Academic Division under Student Experience, Bronwen Stephens applies her extensive expertise in student administration to bolster support for postgraduate research students across the university. Having collaborated with the previous GRS manager Andrew Lonie and graduate research managers from other institutions nationwide over the past year, she is focused on forging stronger links between the Graduate Research School, Student Administration, and the wider Student Experience leadership team. Stephens emphasizes opportunities to revitalize and centralize information on administrative processes for master's students in divisional-based programmes, where relevant knowledge has diluted somewhat. She also proposes evaluating and refining modifications made during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the expedited rollout of online PhD thesis submissions, to better align with eVision capabilities and resource availability. Under her guidance, the Graduate Research School upholds its robust framework for PhD programmes.